Sena Mills Refineries Pvt Limited vs Director General of Customs – NO. 158/2016-2017

In Sena Mills Refineries Pvt Limited v. Chulananda Perera, Director General of Customs and M. Sudath J de Silva, the court addressed the legality of Customs’ detention of imported consignments declared as “Crude Palm Fatty Acid.” The primary issue was whether the shipments constituted palm oil or “Crude Palm Fatty Acid,” impacting their regulatory status under Sri Lankan law. It was determined that customs detention was neither illegal nor arbitrary, as laboratory analyses confirmed the shipments were adulterated palm oil unfit for consumption and prohibited under the Food Act, Customs Ordinance, and Imports & Exports (Control) Act. The petition for writs of Mandamus and Prohibition was dismissed. The decision reaffirmed statutory enforcement powers conferred upon Customs authorities and u